Folic acid and folate describe one of the B vitamins that your body needs for good health. Folate is what is naturally found in foods. Foods that naturally have folate in them include: whole grain breads dark green vegetables (e.g. broccoli, spinach, peas and brussels sprouts) citrus fruits like oranges dried peas, beans and lentils […]

It’s hard to get the amount of folic acid you need from food alone. The best way to get enough folic acid is: Take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day      AND Include foods in your daily meals and snacks that naturally contain folate or […]

If you’re sexually active and could become pregnant, take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day. The label of the multivitamin will tell you the amount of folic acid or folate it has in it. Look for ‘folic acid’ or ‘folate’ on the label where the vitamins […]

Taking a multivitamin with folic acid in it can help to prevent certain birth defects. For this reason, it’s recommended that all people who could become pregnant (even if they are not planning a pregnancy) take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day. NTDs happen in the […]

About 50% of pregnancies are unintended. Folic acid is most important to the development of a baby in the early weeks of pregnancy. At this early stage, many people don’t know that they are pregnant. For information about birth control, go here.